Washington state could enter a deep and treating suprise all over the country, including here in New York. We are asking people from all over USA to help us take action and help pressure Governor Gregoire to settle this lawsuit rather than put Olmstead at risk in the Supreme Court!
Dean
*Governor Gregoire of Washington State is considering fighting the Olmstead decision at the Supreme Court. Tell her to stop!*
*BACKGROUND*
Christine Gregoire, the Democratic Governor of Washington State, is deciding if she will undercut the right of people with disabilities to live in the community! We need to urge Governor Gregoire to settle and not take the case to the Supreme Court!
Because Washington state cut personal care services for approximately 45,000 Medicaid recipients on average by 10 percent, disability advocates sued the state of Washington (M.R. v. Dreyfus) using the Olmstead decision. In response to the suit, Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire argued that individuals with disabilities must be already institutionalized in order to be protected under the Olmstead decision and that it violates the U.S. Constitution for the Americans with Disabilities Act to prevent states from cutting home and community based services, even when those cuts will cause
institutionalization. The Circuit court disagreed with Governor Gregoire.
Now, Governor Gregoire is considering an appeal to the Supreme Court! She wants to maintain control of her budget, but is putting the rights of people with disabilities at risk. If she takes the case to the Supreme Court, they could take the opportunity to turn back the clock on our rights. The disability community in Washington state has urged Governor Gregoire to settle this case without going to the Supreme Court, but she has been unwilling to do so.
*TAKE ACTION NOW*
Use the following link to contact key people within the Gregoire administration and the national leaders in the Democratic Party to urge Governor Gregoire to settle this case.
Thank you,
Dean DeRusso
Deaf Systems Advocate
Regional Center for Independent Living (RCIL)
